Petr Ginz

Born in 1928, Petr Ginz grew up in a Jewish household to half-Jewish parents. At a young age, Petr attended a Jewish school in Prague. During his time in school, Petr became enriched by the novels of Jules Verne. Later, Petr will be inspired to write his own stories and go on to illustrate them.

Celebrating his fascination for space, “Moon Landscape” is one of Petr Ginz’s many illustrations done during his time in Terezín. The drawing depicts Petr’s interpretation of the view of Earth seen from the surface of the moon.

With his wide scope of imagination and talent, Petr and other boys produced a magazine called Vedem during their time in the Terezín concentration camp. Inspired by Verne’s novels, Petr created poems, articles, and illustrations for the magazine Vedem.

In 1944, Petr Ginz was transported to Auschwitz, where he died. Before leaving, Petr left a diary with his sister who lived to see the liberation of Terezín. Few of Petr’s drawings and magazines from 1942-1944 have been preserved.

Astronaut Ilan Ramon

Being the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan was inspired by Petr Ginz and his legacy. Ilan Ramon took a replica of Petr’s “Moon Landscape” aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Ilan’s family had also been affected by the Holocaust. His mother and grandmother survived Auschwitz. His grandfather and other members of his family perished in concentration camps.

A copy of the drawing was given to Ilan by the Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem for his next mission. In 2003, Ilan’s shuttle, crew, and drawing were destroyed upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Astronaut Andrew Feustel

In 2018, serving as an engineer, the American astronaut Andrew Feustel set out on a six-month long expedition. His destination? The International Space Station.

Andrew knew Ilan Ramon and his plan to bring Petr’s “Moon Landscape” to space. Andrew knew of Ilan’s family legacy and how it related to Petr Ginz. On this mission, Andrew Feustel took another replica of Petr’s drawing to space.

On April 12, from the International Space Station, Andrew made a video commemorating Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, holding Petr’s drawing and carrying on Astronaut Ilan Ramon’s legacy.

On February 1, 2020, one of the copies of “Moon Landscape” brought to space was gifted to the Czech Center Museum Houston by Astronaut Andrew Feustel.

Writen by Karlin Lojo